1. Eat less animal fats:
Environmental hormones have an affinity for fats, and many accumulate in the fat of living organisms. In 2001 the US Environmental Protection Agency announced that 95% of the dioxins to which humans are exposed come from eating animal fats. Therefore consumers should reduce their intake of high-fat foods, and pay attention to announcements of health and safety agencies as to which geographical sources of fish and meat products may be polluted with environmental hormones.
2. Avoid contact with substances containing environmental hormones:
Although pesticides containing chlorinated compounds have been banned, pregnant women should still avoid contact with pesticides and unidentified chemicals. Golf courses often use large quantities of pesticides to maintain their greens, and when playing golf, either smoking or skin contact may cause one to absorb excessive amounts of pesticides. Do not use pesticides yourself, and only buy other household chemicals registered as safe by government agencies.
3. Reduce use of plastic products:
Not all plastics are harmful, but people in Taiwan are in the habit of putting hot foods into plastic containers, and everywhere one can see children chewing on plastic toys. Both may expose the human body to environmental hormones. When heating foods in a microwave oven, it is better to use glass or ceramic containers rather than plastic, to reduce the amount of chemicals leaching out of plastics.
4. Give up smoking, avoid second-hand smoke:
Cigarettes contain not only dioxins but also the even more potent carcinogen and suspected environmental hormone benzopyrene.
5. Pay attention to safe drinking water:
As well as paying attention to water company and environmental agency test reports, after boiling mains water it is best to leave the kettle lid off for five minutes to allow volatile substances in the water to escape.
6. Reduce the amount of waste you produce:
Despite the continuous advance of technology, waste incinerators still produce small quantities of dioxins. Only by reducing the amount of waste we produce, and in particular plastic wastes, can we eliminate this danger from incinerators. If we reduce waste, and properly sort, separate and recycle, in fact it is ourselves who will benefit in the end.
(source: Control of Environmental Hormones, by Chen Yeong-ren)
Separating and recycling waste, and using biodegradable, environmentally friendly tableware, can reduce the threat of environmental hormones in our lives.
art by Lee Su-ling; source: National Institute of Environmental Analysis
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